The Frontiers of the Colonial world are shown by barracks and police stations – Franz Fanon.
Invasion day has swelled in size over the past 10 years. The main thing that I have noticed is that blackfellas started coming to invasion day. The first invasion day was on January 26th 1938, it was called a day of mourning about the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Records show that two representatives of the Stradbroke Island people went down to Sydney for that day. The organisers released a pamphlet asking: What have we got to celebrate?
Invasion Day 2025
I would like to acknowledge all the deadly speeches made in Queens Park: speeches by Gaja Kerry Charlton, Uncle Eddie Ruska, Uncle Dale Ruska, Aunty Glennis Croft, Uncle Lionel Fogarty, Moojidi Fogarty, Sameer Ellagta, William Sim, Guyala Bayles, Ruby Wharton. Brett Greinke was the MC.
I have selected some words that struck a cord with me.
Dale Ruska, a Stradbroke aborigine and a Brisbane Black analysed our current situation in this important statement of truth. Dale called on the federal government to facilitate a First Nations-led historical truth-telling and healing commission. He encouraged Aboriginal people to decolonize their mindsets and assert their sovereignty as the rightful owners of the land.
Thinking back to 2010, I heard the welcome song by Uncle Country Matheson.
The song is called “Gari Gynda Narmi” or sometimes written as “Gurri Ngindin Narmi“. This version is by a songman, Uncle Country Matheson, who passed away a few years ago. The song is sacred and recorded as an intro to the Paradigm Shift by permission from Uncle Country’s sister.
Gari Gynda Narmi is originally a Waka Waka song, but with the dispersal and cross-pollination of aboriginal cultures (plus the fact it has easy to remember words and dance moves) means it has become a welcome song of all aboriginal nations in south-east Queensland.
Gari Gynda Narmi has appeared in a few rock versions too, in Mop and the Dropouts song “Dancing Aborigine” and a beautiful acoustic version by Joe Geia which helpfully includes an English translation!
“Welcome to this area,
People from all directions
Now when you leave
May our spirits stay with you”
Moojidi Fogarty performed the welcome song after the speeches.
Guerilla poet Lionel Fogarty pushes against an unjust world. Lionel highlights the historical and ongoing impact of massacres, the cover-up of crimes by authorities, and the disparity in healthcare, particularly in cancer treatment. Fogarty emphasizes the importance of genuine reconciliation and the need for treaties to address the core issues of the heart. He expresses fear for his people due to political figures like Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese. As a writer and poet, he calls for the end of oppression and the liberation of all people, regardless of race, to come together to overcome the systemic racism imposed by white laws. Here is what he had to say:
Samir Ellagata from Justice for Palestine Magandjin spoke about resistance against Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza over the past 16 months. Samir called on people to continue the fight against occupation and colonization, and stand strong in the land, to provide support and solidarity to the Aboriginal community in their struggle, to learn about the Aboriginal culture, food, language, and music, and to advocate for the Aboriginal flag to replace the Australian flag.
Ruby Wharton spoke about the Kurrumba Institute’s focus on anti-racism for liberation, emphasizing the importance of personal happiness and community support in achieving justice. Ruby highlights the harsh realities of children in prison, including solitary confinement, and calls for the end of “toxic prisons” globally. Ruby, a Cooma woman, stresses the need for community-led solutions and the rejection of reliance on policing systems. Moojidi Fogarty concludes with a call to action for the community to challenge obstacles, embrace sovereignty, and participate in a march to Musgrave Park, with a minute of silence for warriors and resilience, and a noisy march to make noise and show support.
Ian Curr,
27 January 2025.
Acknowledgements
This sound was recorded on aboriginal land in Magandjin. Thanks to Jack MacDonald from 4ZZZ for making the recording available. Thanks to Solidarity Resources for providing the deadly equipment that broadcast the sound throughout Queens Park. A big thank you to Sam Watson for keeping me posted as the day unfolded. Thanks to JPEG from Studio 4999 for his beautiful images.